January 21, 2026 • 44 mins
This week on Point Game, Isaiah Thomas & C.J. Toledano react to the 2026 All-Star starter announcements, especially the young stars Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey, explore some possible new directions for the league's European expansion initiative, and dive into trade rumors swirling around Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., Austin Reaves, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Ja Morant.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
One of my favorite Kobe memories that I feel like
is not talked about enough. Jordan's last All Star game.
He hit what was gonna be the game winner, and
it's like that whole games as you remember, it was
like Maria Carrey Jordan Jordan dress. All the players wore
Jordan's you know, uh, even Kobe he wore. He wore
I think the True Blue threes or whatever.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
He took the ball right after that game winner and
went straight to the basket, got fouled. He could have
missed a free throw, he could have whatever.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
They went up to him and told him to miss I.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Don't I don't remember that, Stary, I didn't hear that.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Whoever whispered in his ear. The coach told him to
miss that for, you know, for what was bigger than
the game. And Michael Jordan he like, he looked at
him like, you got me messed up? You tripping? No,
you got the wrong one, bro, I'm about to knock
these down, you tripping.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Welcome to another episode of Point Game. I'm your host CJ. Toldonna,
of course, joined by my co hosts Isaiah Thomas. It
t how you feeling today, man.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I'm good man, it's a good little It's a nice
day where I'm at. So I got some good energy.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
You're spending a couple of days in l A. You're
doing some TV NBA TV stuff with the Association that show.
How's it been feeling. You've been taking some trips to LA.
You're up in Gray Seattle. I know you like it
out there, but LA is different.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Right man? Seeah, I love Seeah. I love Tacoma where
I'm from. But them gloomy days, them rainy days is
getting to me. Man. So anytime I'm able to, you know,
come down here, be on NBA TV, come down to LA.
Get some sun for a couple of days. It gives
you some good energy. Oh and I got to work
out this morning. Me and Chris Paul got a good
(01:58):
work Okay, So out to Chris Paul for inviting me
to come work out. It's always good to be in
the gym with a great.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Any any nuggets there any like? You know? I feel
like you guys are in similar positions to Legends. Could
be signed by a team, could help out immediately. You
guys talking about that you're just getting the work.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
In, getting the work in. But we spoke about it.
He just I remember him saying like this the first
time he's been in this position, so for me to
be in it, you know for a couple of years,
he's like, man, you just inspired me to keep going
because every day it's hard to get up and continue
to work when you don't know you know what's next.
So you know, all prayers and thoughts obviously to him
(02:39):
and want him to you know, get back on with
a team as he should so he can end it
the right way. But it was it's always good to
be in the gym with, you know, one of the
greatest players they ever played a game, one of the
best point guards to played a game.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
That's dope. Well, I'm glad to hear you guys are
teaming up this morning and getting the workout, and obviously
we're going to talk about some All Star and that's
happening in it l A this year at into a Dome,
which is gonna be you know, the Clippers Arena, So
I'm sure that's gonna be at the top of people's mind.
Like we got to do Chris Paul right, so we'll
get into that. The starters got announced, we'd love to
(03:12):
hear reaction. Also Adam Silver is dropping some news on
NBA European expansion. We'd love to hear your thoughts on
the game continue to go global and then some trade rumors,
because we know that's coming up. What's what's real, what's not?
One of the big names we've been we've been talking
about them, but I want to know what you think
is going to be real here. But first, obviously over
(03:34):
the weekend there was some big, big football stuff. So
you come from a big football school, so I wanted
to know if you if you get excited at all
during playoff time that's happened if the Seahawks are looking
pretty good. So I want to see if you caught
that game or any of the other games.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I caught the game so like it was, especially the
first play of the game. We won. We won that
game off the first player of the game for sure, touchdown.
It was. They were saying it was the loudest since
then the Beast quake, since you know when be Smoll
made that run against Yeah, I think it was the Saints.
So I'm not really like I like football, like I
(04:11):
love when the Seahawks are good, but I'm not sitting
down and watching all the football games, and I respect
everybody who does, like because football is dope. You got
good energy, especially around this time. But like, give me
to give me the red zone, like when they're about
to score. Let me look at it when they're about
to score. I don't even want to see the process
(04:32):
of them getting to the twenty yard line. But no,
shout out to the Seahawks. Shout out to my Seahawks.
I think this is our year. I think we're winning
the super Bowl this year.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Though I agree, I agree.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I think it's the year.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Yeah, but it's looking. You know, they're the healthiest, even
the most dominant the last few games. And I'm sure
you're gonna be rocking that Seahawks fitted at some point
in the next year.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I got one. I probably rock it next week, you
know when we record next week. I got a blue
Seahawks one. It's really nice. So so I rock either
rock that or my follow through, so you know one
of the Yeah, I'm a rock one of them next week.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Okay, dope, All right, let's talk basketball. Then the All
Star starters got announced and some names that for sure
we knew were going to happen, and then some new surprises.
So let me just break down who got announced and
I would love to hear your reaction here. So we
got in the East, Joannis, Jalen Brunson, Cad Cunningham, first
time NBA All Star selection as a starter now too,
(05:30):
Tyrese Maxi and Jalen Brown your guy. Uh so East,
let's talk East starting lineup? Any surprises, of course, Yann,
it's not. But we're seeing out. You know, we showed
some love to the Pistons on this podcast a lot.
They're five games ahead in the in the East at
number one. Let's talk about kid Cunningham making his debut
here as a starter. Even how big is that, you know,
(05:53):
because you were we were doing the you did the
twenty sixteen trend and you posted that twenty sixteen talk
about how much this was deserved for Kate and then
even just you know your experience as the first time
in the All Star almost ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Man, it's it's everything. He deserves it. He's arguably the
best guard in the game right now. His team is
one of the best teams in the game right now.
So it's like it's it's well deserved. He earned that,
So shout out to him. Man. I think with how
good they're doing, they should get at least two in
the All Star Game though, Detroit. Who else big fellow
(06:30):
Jayleen Durant, he's one of them. I think that's the
next one. He's a big piece of what they got
going on. So you got to give love to k Man.
He's he's he's doing what he does. Man. I even
watched the game last night where they played the Celtics,
and he didn't really have a good game. But it's
just his presence on the floor, like he gets anywhere
(06:50):
he wants. He's a big guard. They got nice size
and he's strong and physical, so he's a he's a
he's a tough cover man. So shout out to him
on his first time All Stars starting, And then to
answer your question about the first time All Stars those
times is amazing, man, Just to be able to see
your favorite players, being able to interact with them throughout
(07:12):
the weekend, just being on that level. It's a different
you know, they say it's levels to it, Like there's
a different level to bring just a really good NBA
player to being an All Star then to being a
starting All Star, Like it's always a level higher you
can go and to be in that same space as
all the best players in the league in today's game,
(07:34):
is like it only solidifies you, It only makes you
that much better. And I think like for me, it
gave me more confidence going into the second half of
the season, just being around that weekend, being around greatness,
interacting with Kobe, being laughing around with Lebron and d
Wade and those type of guys like it made me
feel that much more unstoppable when I got back to
(07:56):
my team and it was time to end the season
in the last thirty forty games. So I know, for
all Star starters, you you even feel like even different
level of confidence and and swagger to yourself. So, you know,
shout out to all those guys that got named starters.
Big shout out to k Cunningham because he deserves it.
I hope the NBA does right and gets two guys
(08:18):
in there as their number one in the East.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
And they got it. They got because I remember remember
the Hawks days when there was like four.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Four through you know, it's their whole starters. Yeah, you know,
I remember that. It's it's when you're number one and
number two are you're a big you got a big
leap in the standings ahead of other teams. It's only
right to get to you know, to show your love
and respect and give give those guys at least two
sometimes three guys in there.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Yeah, I what was interesting was, you know, with I
think we're seeing this sort of shake out this new NBA,
the new like Contenders, where these teams have deep benches,
spread out, tons of role players, and we've gone away
from that, like three megastar team, the big three's are
sort of fading out, and so yeah, how do you
show how do you recognize you know, these winning teams,
(09:08):
like you gotta have a you know, more than one player,
like you said, And so I think it's just the
difficulty and we'll see how the reserves gets filled out.
And if it's not more than you know, two pistons,
like I think we do got a problem.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
It gotta be too you that's a no brainer. So
I hope because Duran his stats probably don't show All Star,
but he's an impactful player on a winning team. So
like you got to reward that.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Well what about uh? I think tyres MAXI is not
his first All Star game, but they just actually New
Balance announced today that he's getting a signature shoe. So
and just as Tyrese Maxie you know, as a starter
to me and looking at and we'll get to the
west in a second. Here it really shows that the
new generation of NBA is here.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
It's here signature shoe starter, first time Philadelphia seventy six
er starter since Alan Iverson.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
That's crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
That says a lot like this young kid is is
very talented, very special, a bright future over there in
Philly with not just him but VJ the rookie. So
shout out to shout out to Maxie Man. I'm a
big fan of his game, his speed. He had a
hell of a game last night as well. So it's
(10:21):
like he's doing his thing. Bro. It's well deserved for
the new age guards, the new age players coming in
and it's crazy to be in the game. Like when
I got in the game, Kobe was still here, like
Kobe was still on top twenty eleven, Kobe was still
like on top of his game. And then to see
him like obviously get older and his game start to
(10:46):
go down as every older guy does. And then the
CEE these superstars, now you got James Harden, left, Steph Curry,
Lebron obviously and a few more that obviously I'm not naming,
but to see the tables turning KD into the next
group of young superstars, it's crazy to be able to
(11:07):
be in the game and experience all that.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
That leads me to an interesting question here of like,
do you have any advice for these younger all stars
going in and being able to have the vets and
that the superstars have been doing it? Like should they
be picking their brands for advice? Like how do they
take full advantage of that weekend?
Speaker 2 (11:24):
I mean they need to. I mean, and I know
as young players you're intimidated by the guys you looked
up to watched on TV. But I'm telling you, as
even an older player now, like and I was the
one guy I asked questions. I don't care, like I
ain't got no pride, Like Kobe's right there, I'm going
to sit next to him and try to chop it
up with him. But this younger generation of guys, they're
(11:48):
they're they're definitely a little intimidated by the older guys.
But an older guy loves when a guy asking questions,
and you can game somebody. So if I'm when I'm
k cunning, game. I'm MAXI, I'm all these guys. I'm
going in the locker room ask them guys, Man, how
did you how are you playing twenty plus years? How
are you still on top of your game at year
(12:09):
nineteen and eighteen? Like KD, It's like that's the answers
to the test right there. And if you're not going
to ask it that weekend when everybody's chill, nobody's in
like in competitive state, really, man, you will be chripping
if you don't. If you don't, if you don't get
some advice from the greatest players that you looked up
to and watch while you was coming up.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
I would say, honestly that twenty sixteen Toronto All Start,
it was probably it was honestly my favorite All Star
weekend of the last I mean exactly ten years. And yeah,
like you said, you got to talk to Kobe. That
was Kobe's last All Star game, Like yeah, like that
was like you could you got to go and ask
him questions everything.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Like I'm telling you, when I first seen Kobe in
the hallway when you go into your little appearances, Yeah,
he really grabbed me and hugged me like like like
he was just so proud of me, like like welcome,
like finally, like you're here. I'm like like because I'm
the only one that dreamed of that, Not even my mom,
not even my dad, like, not even my wife, Like, no,
(13:13):
nobody super close to me even thought that was possible.
I know for a fact, Like they could say they did,
but there's no way, Like I dreamed of that every
day and then to experience that, like it was one
of the best feelings ever. So I know what these
young guys, especially who are first time All Stars are
going through, Like it's one of the dopest feelings ever
(13:35):
because you dream about that weekend because you watched it
as a kid growing.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Up the West. Some regular names here, some names that
we knew for sure. We got Jo, Kich, Luca, Sga, Steph,
and wemb What the main thing that I get from
this roster or this announcement is, like, you know, because
as the the game's format changes to USA versus the World,
four to five out of these names here are international
(13:59):
stars Jokic, Luka, Sja, and Wemby. So I guess, just
even leading into the format, we've talked about it before
the USA Versus the World. Do you feel like that
this is a welcome, I guess, suggestion to fix the
All Star Do you think that? And I had seen
other other analysts say, like, these players are going to
(14:20):
be playing for the country on their chest, Like, of
course they're doing that in the Olympics, but this is
still All Star weekend, mid season players don't want to
get hurt. Do you feel like it's really going to
be USA versus the world out there or people going
to be playing soft and trying not to get hurt.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I think it could be a little more competitive, but
it won't get to where it's going to be like
back and forth. I hope, like I hope, but it's
so many people in these guys ere about not going
that hard, about just being safe and not having those
stupid small injuries throughout the weekend. So I think at
(14:57):
times throughout the game, I hope it's really competitive, and
I hope what the NBA is doing, obviously is trying
to figure out ways to make it competitive. By doing
the world versus us you would think there would be
some pride on the line, But until like the best
player in the world goes hard in that setting, everybody
else would follow suit.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
That's super interesting id because you know, during the weekend
we always get these reports of like the leagues meeting
with the players saying you gotta try hard, but it
really is dependent, like who's gonna set the precedent, right, Yeah,
like you were there, you've you've been on the inside.
Are these superstar players? Is there like say, Jannis starts
(15:37):
from you know, from the tip off starts just like
running at that rim. Are players gonna go, oh, we're
not just gonna stand around for this or I feel
like one laugh in the games, like they're chilling, they're
throwing crazy passes, they're shooting you know, half court threes.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Like it's difficult. I don't know, because it's it's entertainment
as well, but the whole weekend is so much going on,
Like the game isn't that important to a lot of people,
not saying it wasn't to me, but like being in
that situ being in those situations a couple of times
it's like, guy, don't want to get embarrassed. First off,
(16:13):
Like I'm not saying that's me, but the overall aspect
of it, and Guy's got a lot of pride. If
back in the day, if Jordan went hard everybody would
go hard. When Kobe went hard, everybody laced their stuff
up and went hard. Like when Lebron goes hard, everybody
follows suit. So one of these young guys coming up,
(16:35):
if they put their pride aside and pick somebody up
full quart a couple of times, like you never know,
Like you don't know what triggers these guys, but I
hope it's competitive at some point, like play around through
the first couple quarters and then like put some money
on the line, Like that's what's gonna get it. Somebody
got some money on the line, or so somebody make
(16:56):
a little small bed. That's what's gonna get guys. Juice
is flowing for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Speaking on that, honestly, it reminds me of my one
of my favorite Kobe memories that I feel like is
not talked about enough. And people remember this. It was
Jordan's last All Star game. He hit what was gonna
be the game winner, and it's like that whole games
as you remember, it was like Mariah Carrey Jordan Jordan dress.
It was all for Jordan's. You know, all the players
(17:24):
wore Jordan's you know, uh, even Kobe he wore he
wore I think the true Blue threes or whatever. But
he he went. He took the ball right after that
game winner and went straight to the basket, got fouled.
He could have missed the frequently.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
He could have a story where they told him they
went up to him and told him to miss I don't.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
I don't remember that, so I didn't hear the story.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Who said the story? It was whoever whispered in his
ear the coach told him to miss that for you know,
for what was bigger than the game. And Michael Jordan,
he like, he looked at him, like, you got me
messed up. He tripping went to the free throw and
told him right before it, and then he looked at
him like, nah, you got the wrong one, bro, I'm
(18:05):
about to knock these down, you tripping. But but that
was Jordan going hard. That was Kobe going hard. That
was you would look crazy if you didn't go hard
with all them great players going that. Yeah, that hard.
So hopefully, man, things change this All Star We pray
we got a competitive one, but I don't know.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Guys got to get them. Moment mentality, we talk about
all something's injected back into the All Star Game.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Something and one of them young dudes got maybe Anthony Erwars,
you never know.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Honestly, what I like about this is that we got
to remember this is fan vote too, and the fact
that we got Cade, Maxi and Brown in there means
that people are knowing ball a little bit more than
we used to. These aren't just dudes showing up in commercials.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
All the time, no nah, And they don't even really
have no commercials right now. So like those those are
fans watching and wanted to see those guys in there
because they're super exciting, they're super they're on the verge
of being superstars.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
It's gonna be a good one this year. We'll take
a break here on Point Game and come back. We're
going to talk some trade from there's happening to be
Brandow all right, welcome back on Point Game. Now. We're
nearing the trade deadlines, and so we've had some names
here that have been on the trading block and the
(19:22):
top of the trading rumors radar the last few weeks.
But I wanted to talk about some other ones. So
obviously some other podcasts going on. This one got leaked.
It was kind of a controversy here with Rich Paul
agent and head of Clutch said that Austin Reeves for
Jaron Jackson Junior. So on a couple of levels, I
want to talk about this one. And you know, there's
(19:43):
no bad blood anywhere. We're not gonna talk about about anyone.
But this is the first time we've ever seen an
agent have their own podcast talking about how he would
do a Jaron Jackson a play like he's got his
main client, his friend Lebron on the Lakers, saying he
would do a trade for Austin Reeves for Jared Jackson.
So one, want to know your thoughts on I guess
(20:03):
that approach. And then two, is that a good trade?
Because as a Lakers fan, I was going I wish
he didn't do that, But I don't know. Jen Jackson
Junior is a great player in the Lakers have been needing.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
I mean, first off, come on, Rich Paul, we can't
be doing that. That's insane because that seems like a
realistic trade too.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Like, and then just to know who he is and
what he is to Lebron is like, has that been
conversation between y'all? You just never know. But I mean,
I don't think he should be on any podcasts talking
about trades, Like, if you're going to be on one,
you could definitely talk the game, talk about what's going
on in your life in terms of the agent side
(20:44):
of things and all of that. Like, I'm cool with that.
You did a trade that is really realistic and it
has the world. Anything you say obviously is going to
be thought about, as Lebron spoke about it as well.
So like, I think that was wrong to throw somebody
out in especially on the Lakers, Like maybe do another
(21:06):
team and then and then nobody's really having any problems.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
That's a tough deal. I mean, and I'm one of
the biggest Austin Reeves fans, and but you know.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
I think that's a good like to piggyback, that's a
good trade because Jared Jackson is better than any big
you have. I think he would make him and Luca
would be really good because he is as a it's
a rim threat, a guy that can shoot the three,
a guy that is you gotta worry about on offense.
And I don't think they have that yet in terms
of their bigs. But then you're giving up a guy
(21:38):
that's averaging twenty five plus and it's one of the
up and coming you know, stars in this league. So yeah,
it's it's it's tough because like, if I'm in that situation,
I'm thinking, does Jared Jackson make me a contender to
win the championship right now? Like? Is that a guarantee
I get at least even to the conference finals? But then,
(21:59):
like say Lebron retires after this year, you just gave
up Austin Reeves. It is a big piece, Yeah, what
you got going on?
Speaker 1 (22:07):
So it would be a good trade. I think you
said it right. There is, but like do they want
to win right now? Does it make him a contender?
And I unfortunately feel like the Lakers do not have
a window to leverage their future anymore. You know, like
a couple of years ago with Lebron, who you know,
had some years in front of him, it's like, oh, yeah,
we got to give Lebron those pieces. But they've they've
(22:28):
tried it a few times and it just backfired. And
now you got Austin Reeves, who's been loyal, who could
have went anywhere when he was a free agent, has
said I feel like he's he's in. His deal is
incredibly Lakers friendly.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
I think the biggest thing is too. Like the Lakers,
he's their most valued player right now other than Luca.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Another name former Laker A D who unfortunately has has
been suffering through some injuries. But I think we've all
seen when when a D is eighty five percent healthy,
he's one of the greatest bigs out there.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Real.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
So, you know, the Mass have talked about they'd be
down to trade them. Some teams I think could really
use them. I think a D needs a situation and
some scenery that is not as dysfunctional as sort of
the you know, the past couple of teams he's been on,
just a place where he can hoop, you know, worry
about his health and all that. So what do you
think about the Mass trading for AD or should they
(23:22):
hang on to him? Like that is a team that
we haven't really seen healthy as well in Cooper Flag,
like they keep getting better. I think they won, like
they're their third straight recently. So yeah, you know, do
they trade a piece that could potentially help them when
they're when they're healthy. What do you think about Ad?
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I think they trade him. I think okay, you get
some value for him. You start to build around Cooper
Flag like you're not winning the championship. If AD's healthy
or Kyrie comes back healthy, just you're just not right now.
I don't believe that. So why not trade Ad, get
some value for him, whether it be draft picks, young guys,
(23:57):
probably put somebody else in that trade to build around
super Flag and Kyrie moving forward, and then go from there.
Like the Dallas thing just hasn't worked. Obviously, A D
has been not hasn't been healthy as as much as
he's he wants to be. I just think that whole
dynamic is just it was forced obviously with the Luca trade.
(24:20):
It's just a time for a change of scenery for him,
and I think it would it would help a D
as well obviously once he gets healthy. But going somewhere
you never I don't know where he will go. I
don't know who would want him. Obviously, teams would want him, yeah,
but I just don't know what direction you go in
(24:40):
in terms of where that's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
At Yeah, I can't. I can't really off the top
of my head think about you know, we've been looking
at these trades through the lens of like you know,
making teams of media contenders. I think the league is
right now. The way it stands, the teams are are
it's sort of bottom heavy, right, So it's like Ad
going so where isn't gonna make him a contender? But
(25:02):
you know some of these teams need to just admit
that they got to do with the long play. We
talked about the Wizards. You know, if Trey is getting
there and they're talking about how you might play, he's
ramping up, like you need a couple more vets there
because they lost CJ who was their great vet. Like
you get a d who's a great vet but also
a dominant force when he is healthy. You got Trey
young that that combo rate there, I think.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I mean that would be that would be that would
be like good, you got you're coming in next year
with treyon and Ad. You got the young wings, you
got you got a couple of young guards. That shows
that you're making progress and moving forward like you want to.
You're not saying you can win a championship with that team.
You can get to the playoffs, build a year after
(25:45):
year for a couple of years. In two years, three years,
maybe you're especially in the East, maybe you're in the
second conference finals, second round Conference finals and then you
gotta Obviously it's towards the end of a d's career
at some point, but that would be a good little place,
and it's DC, Like DC is a nice place to
(26:05):
live too.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
My other play here is going hometown like Chicago. Oh,
I think could make some room too. Obviously they got
you know, Vuceviciu has always played really solid, but like
him going back, I feel like he really put on
for l A and like felt like fed off the
energy of the city, which I feel like he doesn't
really have in Dallas unfortunately. But going back to his
hometown and playing where it all began, I feel like
(26:28):
could be interesting as well.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
And they'll give him good energy, Like they'll probably mean
a little more, yeah, but I mean that that could
be a good will that make them probably okay. That's
the only thing is like, yeah, you might want to
go back to the crib, but are you cool with
not being good for a couple of years, Like that's
like not even saying they won't be good, but like
(26:51):
championship contending good, that's a no brainer. That's no go okay.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
And finally I saw this report. We've been talking about
this potentially happening. But here's the interesting and wrinkles. So
the Knicks have discussed trading Cat and I saw. I
was like, okay, so this is starting. It's gonna be
Cat for Yannis. But then they said magic Hornets and
Grizzlies or who they were talking to.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
See those type of trades. Is definitely gonna be a
three team trade and a few players. But I think
the Knicks need to give up kay.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
I think, but you gotta only give him up for Yannis, right, Yeah, you're.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Not giving them up for some role players or any No,
it's a star for star. It's a star for star,
and you're probably gonna have to give up a little more.
But yeah, I'm making that move if that's available.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
And you're making that move. Like with Kat, who he's
been on the Timberwolves when they've been successful. The Knicks
have been successful. But there is something about Cat where
he's a seven footer, but he's an incredible shooter at
seven feet tall. But sometimes these teams just need their
seven foot or to be a big presence in the post.
Is that sort of the number one criticism?
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Yeah, like you're living, you're you're You're just a seven
foot guard at this point, Like he doesn't go in
the post enough, and when he is in the posts,
he makes stuff happen. But I know that's not how
the game is and guys don't want to bang like
they used to. But I feel like he has to
be able to switch it up a little more, like
(28:17):
do a little bit of both, like especially when it's
mismatches and stuff. I think he tends to just stay
around the top of the key the three point line
and fire away. And he's one of the best three
point shooting bigs, so you you can't take that away
from him, but I would like to see him be
a little more versatile and doing more things that closer
(28:37):
to the hoop at times.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
And it was like a little snapshot of this season
on the Pond. We were like, oh, the Knicks are winning,
they're on a win streak, but then they just lost
a few games.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
They've been, they've been. They lost nine out of their
last eleven.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
You know, so that's all it takes.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
So you know, they're saying, fire Mike bro They're doing
all that just how New York always does it. So
it's like they it's crazy there. They lost nine to
eleven and they're still like in third or fourth place.
That's how good they was really playing.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
And the Celtics are our second in the East, who
was supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Rebuilding like a down year. Tatum comes back.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
In the playoffs, like we might see Celtics in the final.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
There's a team. They're a team you don't want to
really match up with. That's just that they're a team
that you don't want to match it with during that time.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Well, and you spent some time around that team. Not
to go away from trade stuff, but like we gotta
we gotta give credit to Derek White, like he's a
legitimate player. He wasn't just like the whole player, Like
you know, that team is full of dogs. Obviously Jalen
has been a leader, uh since being there, but like yeah,
for them to play as well as they have without
Tatum and then Tatum going to be healthy and like
what what what's that? What you've been over there? Like
(29:49):
what is that over there? It's good coaching.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Is the culture is there is culture staff is really
good and prepared. They have really good players that are
like next mentality up next man mentality mindsets, and they
got really skilled players like Peyton Pritcher's really skilled, Derek
White's really skilled. Obviously, Jaylen Brown is taking his game
(30:14):
to another level that guys didn't think he can be
the number one option and lead a team, and he's
doing that, and he's playing on both sides of the ball.
Like he's one of the best two way players in
the game. So I think they got they got championship experience,
so no situation or no game is too much for them,
and that's like a skill to have. And they've been
(30:36):
together for a little bit, so like they know, they've
been to war together. And when you've been when you've
been a battle with the next guy right next to
you numerous times at the highest stage, you have a
little different confidence in you that no matter who we play,
we can beat these guys.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Don't count them out. It's going to be interesting with
all these trades, these sneaky teams. We don't this is
the most open season that I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
It, and that's good for the game. Like you don't
got like obviously, Okay, see he's the favorite because they're
one of the best teams, but like it's not no
clear cut they're winning even though they're playing really well.
That's just how the game is now, and that just
makes it that much more competitive and exciting at the
same time. For sure.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Okay, we're gonna take another break Cawn point game. When
we come back, we're gonna talk about the league going
even more global with Silver talking an expansion, and then
we're gonna do our no days off and awards some
players that everyone needs to be talking about. Let me back,
all right. For this week's DraftKings Sportsbook segment, the current
(31:40):
odds have SGA, Kate Cunningham, and Anthony Edwards all at
the same odds of plus two point fifty to win
the Clutch Player of the Year. So it who do
you think out of those names are gonna get the
Clutch Award this year?
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Man, those are some tough names. Those are some good names.
But I'm gonna go with the mister confident himself. Mister
he's believing in himself, Anthony Edwards, because he's always having
that mindset of of getting the job done and and
I love that mindset. So I'm gonna go with Aunt Edwards.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
I think he'd have his money on himself too, So
thank you, said, mister Confidence. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app
and use Code Point Game. New customers can bet just
five dollars and if your bet wins, you'll get three
hundred dollars in bonus bets instantly with Code Point Game
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Speaker 3 (32:26):
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terms and responsible gaming resources see DKNG, dot co, slash audio,
Limited time Offer.
Speaker 1 (32:53):
All right, welcome back to Point Game. Now, I wanted
to talk. We talked about how the All Star Game
is going to the USA versus World format, but I
think Silver since he's come in, he's sort of had
his eyes set on, you know, how to continue growing
this game globally, and he announced that they are in
talks on an NBA in feba partnership and doing some
some sort of like NBA euro League Memphis and the
(33:14):
Magic put over in Berlin and London, which was a
great look. Now it t you know you during your
time in the NBA did you go overseas and I
know you were even looking at some euro League stuff,
Like what do you know about over there? Is this
a good move or should the league be you know,
just continue to take care of the product back home.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
It gott to grow. It's only right for the game
to grow. So Adam Silver is doing the right thing
and expanding it to different countries, for different countries that
be able to have the access to see players they
only see on TV. The game is global, man, So
it's it's it's a dope experience, not only for the
fan that doesn't get to see these guys on the regular,
(33:52):
but for the player going to these cities, experiencing the culture,
the different cultures, eating the food, and experiencing that love
that other countries give you. It's like, it's it's a
no brainer. Like what Adam Silver's doing is is is genius.
Is only right. It's probably tough doing it in the
(34:13):
middle of the season, because when I played back in
twenty sixteen and seventeen. I think even in twenty fifteen,
we went on the Celtics, we went to Mulan, Italy,
we went to Madrid, we went to like, like, we
had a couple of cities that we end up playing
in the preseason, and it was like an experience of
a lifetime. It was so dop. It was so dope.
(34:35):
We even I even ended up playing against Luka Doncis's team,
and he was like fifteen or sixteen years old, and
nobody even knew he was on the bench. So that's
how crazy the game is and how things just change
and turn and now he's one of the best players
in the world. Like, so it's dope to be able
to experience that, to see those things, and for the
(34:59):
NBA to expand. The NBA should be everywhere, man, it's
so it's so big, the world watches it. It should
be the best players in the world around the world.
Somehow someway that.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
That's such a cool story. You're saying that you're playing
against Luca. Didn't you didn't even know who he was
though he.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Was the only way I remembered it because when he
got to the league. He mentioned he's like the first
NBA players I've seen or NBA team I played against
was Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics, and he ended up
getting in that game, I think towards the end, but
like you just would never know. And that's how I
bet Winby did it with somebody and how like all
(35:36):
those stars from different countries that you never even heard of,
that's how they break through, get the opportunity and then
become who they are.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
There was I remember Ricky Rubio playing at like fourteen. Yeah,
there's a story like Barkley always tells how he went
over He's playing Dirk and then they were like, who's
this Dirk guy? Shooting all these fadeaways, crazy footwork, and
then he was trying to get Dirk to go play
for Auburn.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
You know. I remember one time I was in high school,
I was playing for the USA team and we went
to Italy and we played, we participated in the europre
draft thing with all like the older men, and we
were like sixteen seventeen at the time, playing against these guys,
scrimmaging and getting our ass kicked, like be losing by
(36:23):
thirty forty and we had all like the top little
college stars on the team that were going to college
all that, but it didn't matter. And I remember seeing
Marco BELLNELLI like for the first time. This is when,
this is when he was going into the draft. I
remember what he was wearing and everything. This is how
I mazed.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
I was.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
I was like, he had an all white Jordan threes
and he walked in the gym like he was Michael Jordan,
pure money. All the pure Moneies walked in and everybody
like his are his His energy was like, damn, that's
that dude. I don't even know who he was until yes,
and they were like, man, he's going in the draft
this year. He gonna be a top ten pick. He's
(37:00):
one of them dudes. And then we play against him
and stuff, Like I thought he was like Kobe, Like
I thought he was that good at that point because
I never seen no guy make every shot. He's fading away,
he doing stuff that you only see on TV. But like,
that's where the game has taken everybody to where you
can go to a different country running to a person
(37:21):
you never seen, never heard of, and then five ten
years later he'd be one of the best players to
play the game like.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Man shout out Marco Bellinellie. Honestly, I told you before
I was a fan of the Bulls, Nate Robinson, those
teams where they would always get some guys like Marc Bellanellien.
I was like, who is this guy? And he was
doing those fadeaways, he was doing all these.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
And he was threes, he was doing all automatic.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
But then he had this aura of like a race
car driver.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Yes, but back then he had an or like he
was Kobe. He walked in I told you with the
all white threes he had so oh he had the
NBA socks and I'm like, oh, damn, he must be cold.
Didn't even know didn't even know who it was. I
was like, damn, that was back in two thousand and six,
two thousand and seven, damn, or whatever year he went
(38:06):
to the draft. That might have been two thousand and eight.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
So other games that are producer actually put together a
list which I thought was cool, some games that you know,
potentially that we we would want to see out there.
We got Nuggets game in Serbia, kauz Jokic Bucks game
in Greece because he Yiannis Spurs in France Lakers and
Slovenia because of Luca and Sixers game and Cameroon, Like
how much you know how much love is are the
(38:29):
fans given? Like what's the environment like in comparison to NBA,
especially when they're their hometown heroes are coming to play.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
There's no comparison to the love you get overseas. I
don't I don't care where it's had, Like those people
don't think they're ever gonna see ever ever, so like
the love is like, the love is real anytime I'm
going I go to like list last summer, I went
to Greece twice, I went to Switzerland. Like it's like
you would think I'm Michael Jordan. Like like that the
(38:59):
amount of love and how crazy they go for you.
So the NBA should do that every year to where
especially the top dogs that are over that are foreign,
they should have a game in their home city to
just bring awareness of the game of basketball bringing the NBA.
That would be cracking if they did that every year
to the obviously you got to be a superstar star, yeah,
(39:22):
and you go back to your go back to the crib,
be able to play and get that experience.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
Like that would be man here's how I think they
could do it too, especially they get because I feel
like the league, and Mellow was just talking about his
podcast of like you know and you've gone through too,
of like the league is just so filled with talent, right,
so we have guys who can clearly play right now
who aren't on teams. Right So if they're going, you're
a league, you put Luca on Slovenia, you take away
(39:48):
some of these guys, but then you feel those spots
with some US players on these teams.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
So you're saying, really making an expansion in them having.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
A team, and like it's separate from the NBA. It's
NBA Euro it's or it's NBA Global, you know, and
so it is like an Olympics, but it's more so
just like for like a couple of months or something
instead of ye if.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
You could do like even if you could do like
a month friendly or whatever, you're where you do a
month and every all those guys are on the team
where they're from. And I get it, I get it.
You're gonna have to pay so much more for these guys.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
Put the money where people want to watch, you know, And.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
For sure, no, I think it would be dope if
you can make it happen, if.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
You lead guys to like the younger guys who you
know you want them on a team. Mac McClung's you know,
just get like, let's be just I guess it's like
more of like a reoccurring like World Games.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
No that that it could make sense, Yeah, it can.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
Just how to fix it?
Speaker 2 (40:49):
That would be dope. If somehow that can make it
make sense. I would like, I know, if they can,
they're they're definitely gonna Expand.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
All right, let's go into our No Days Off segment.
You've been watching who we've been watching it? Who are
some names? Actually listen, let's do a little reminder for
anyone who's just locking in the podcast for the first time.
We call it this segment No Days Off, where we
give some love to a player who's not getting that
TV shine, not getting all the posts and social media,
but who's really really stepping up and killing and deserves
(41:20):
some love and deserves our flowers. So it who are
you giving it to this week? No days Off?
Speaker 2 (41:25):
This week No days Off? Over there? Our guy over
there on the Atlanta Hawks, Nikkeiel Alexander Walker has been
doing his thing ever since the trade, he's been obviously
playing more in the starting lineup getting minutes, but even
before the Tray Young trade, he's really been balling every week.
(41:45):
When I look at the box score, when I look
at Atlanta hot game, he's given you twenty six, twenty two.
And let's not forget he plays both ends of the floor.
Like he started his career as a lockdown defender. The
last couple of Playoffs appearances he's had, that's been his
job is to guard the best guard, hit his open threes,
(42:06):
and he's expanded his game even more in terms of
making plays off the dribble, knocking down this three, consistently
really being a dog out there for the Atlanta Hawks.
So like I got to give a big shout out
to him or no days off winner. We're always looking
for the guys that don't get the love. We're always
looking for the guys they don't get the media light
(42:27):
on them. But we're gonna shine the light on our guy.
NA kill Alexander Walker over there in Atlanta, the cousin
of SGA, So he got a little bit of SGA
in his game, and I know he'd be wearing the
converse and all that. So maybe SGA's game is spilling
over to to Walker's game, So shout out to him. Man,
(42:49):
no days off, winner for the week, keep doing your things,
stay on your slow ground.
Speaker 1 (42:53):
Dope and just piggybacking on that. I think that's why
we saw the trade, the trade young trade happen. They
got a bunch of guys who deserve to have the
ball in their hands more and they just got to
cover right now, and so they cleared up some cap
space and want have to resign that that that giant
contract that trees getting demand. So shout out to that.
It's nice when uh, you know, you like correct a problem,
(43:15):
you know by bringing in a guy like Nikielan who's
really stepping into his contract in a big way. So
shout out to him. There's been another episode of Point Game.
Any parting words it.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Fans out there, just keep tapping in with us. Man,
we need more viewers, We need all of that. We
need to love. Tell us what you want to hear,
what you want to chop with us to chop it
up about, even if you want some real deal stories.
I just think in the back of my head of
all the you know, hope experience I've had in my career,
but you know, shout out to you, Shout out to
everybody involved. It's a it's a rap, all right.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
There's been point game presented by follow Through, Slow Grind,
iHeart and DraftKings. See you guys next m
One of my favorite Kobe memories that I feel like
is not talked about enough. Jordan's last All Star game.
He hit what was gonna be the game winner, and
it's like that whole games as you remember, it was
like Maria Carrey Jordan Jordan dress. All the players wore
Jordan's you know, uh, even Kobe he wore. He wore
I think the True Blue threes or whatever.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
He took the ball right after that game winner and
went straight to the basket, got fouled. He could have
missed a free throw, he could have whatever.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
They went up to him and told him to miss I.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
Don't I don't remember that, Stary, I didn't hear that.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Whoever whispered in his ear. The coach told him to
miss that for, you know, for what was bigger than
the game. And Michael Jordan he like, he looked at
him like, you got me messed up? You tripping? No,
you got the wrong one, bro, I'm about to knock
these down, you tripping.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Welcome to another episode of Point Game. I'm your host CJ. Toldonna,
of course, joined by my co hosts Isaiah Thomas. It
t how you feeling today, man.
Speaker 2 (01:17):
I'm good man, it's a good little It's a nice
day where I'm at. So I got some good energy.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
You're spending a couple of days in l A. You're
doing some TV NBA TV stuff with the Association that show.
How's it been feeling. You've been taking some trips to LA.
You're up in Gray Seattle. I know you like it
out there, but LA is different.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Right man? Seeah, I love Seeah. I love Tacoma where
I'm from. But them gloomy days, them rainy days is
getting to me. Man. So anytime I'm able to, you know,
come down here, be on NBA TV, come down to LA.
Get some sun for a couple of days. It gives
you some good energy. Oh and I got to work
out this morning. Me and Chris Paul got a good
(01:58):
work Okay, So out to Chris Paul for inviting me
to come work out. It's always good to be in
the gym with a great.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Any any nuggets there any like? You know? I feel
like you guys are in similar positions to Legends. Could
be signed by a team, could help out immediately. You
guys talking about that you're just getting the work.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
In, getting the work in. But we spoke about it.
He just I remember him saying like this the first
time he's been in this position, so for me to
be in it, you know for a couple of years,
he's like, man, you just inspired me to keep going
because every day it's hard to get up and continue
to work when you don't know you know what's next.
So you know, all prayers and thoughts obviously to him
(02:39):
and want him to you know, get back on with
a team as he should so he can end it
the right way. But it was it's always good to
be in the gym with, you know, one of the
greatest players they ever played a game, one of the
best point guards to played a game.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
That's dope. Well, I'm glad to hear you guys are
teaming up this morning and getting the workout, and obviously
we're going to talk about some All Star and that's
happening in it l A this year at into a Dome,
which is gonna be you know, the Clippers Arena, So
I'm sure that's gonna be at the top of people's mind.
Like we got to do Chris Paul right, so we'll
get into that. The starters got announced, we'd love to
(03:12):
hear reaction. Also Adam Silver is dropping some news on
NBA European expansion. We'd love to hear your thoughts on
the game continue to go global and then some trade rumors,
because we know that's coming up. What's what's real, what's not?
One of the big names we've been we've been talking
about them, but I want to know what you think
is going to be real here. But first, obviously over
(03:34):
the weekend there was some big, big football stuff. So
you come from a big football school, so I wanted
to know if you if you get excited at all
during playoff time that's happened if the Seahawks are looking
pretty good. So I want to see if you caught
that game or any of the other games.
Speaker 2 (03:50):
I caught the game so like it was, especially the
first play of the game. We won. We won that
game off the first player of the game for sure, touchdown.
It was. They were saying it was the loudest since
then the Beast quake, since you know when be Smoll
made that run against Yeah, I think it was the Saints.
So I'm not really like I like football, like I
(04:11):
love when the Seahawks are good, but I'm not sitting
down and watching all the football games, and I respect
everybody who does, like because football is dope. You got
good energy, especially around this time. But like, give me
to give me the red zone, like when they're about
to score. Let me look at it when they're about
to score. I don't even want to see the process
(04:32):
of them getting to the twenty yard line. But no,
shout out to the Seahawks. Shout out to my Seahawks.
I think this is our year. I think we're winning
the super Bowl this year.
Speaker 1 (04:41):
Though I agree, I agree.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
I think it's the year.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Yeah, but it's looking. You know, they're the healthiest, even
the most dominant the last few games. And I'm sure
you're gonna be rocking that Seahawks fitted at some point
in the next year.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I got one. I probably rock it next week, you
know when we record next week. I got a blue
Seahawks one. It's really nice. So so I rock either
rock that or my follow through, so you know one
of the Yeah, I'm a rock one of them next week.
Speaker 1 (05:07):
Okay, dope, All right, let's talk basketball. Then the All
Star starters got announced and some names that for sure
we knew were going to happen, and then some new surprises.
So let me just break down who got announced and
I would love to hear your reaction here. So we
got in the East, Joannis, Jalen Brunson, Cad Cunningham, first
time NBA All Star selection as a starter now too,
(05:30):
Tyrese Maxi and Jalen Brown your guy. Uh so East,
let's talk East starting lineup? Any surprises, of course, Yann,
it's not. But we're seeing out. You know, we showed
some love to the Pistons on this podcast a lot.
They're five games ahead in the in the East at
number one. Let's talk about kid Cunningham making his debut
here as a starter. Even how big is that, you know,
(05:53):
because you were we were doing the you did the
twenty sixteen trend and you posted that twenty sixteen talk
about how much this was deserved for Kate and then
even just you know your experience as the first time
in the All Star almost ten years ago.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
Man, it's it's everything. He deserves it. He's arguably the
best guard in the game right now. His team is
one of the best teams in the game right now.
So it's like it's it's well deserved. He earned that,
So shout out to him. Man. I think with how
good they're doing, they should get at least two in
the All Star Game though, Detroit. Who else big fellow
(06:30):
Jayleen Durant, he's one of them. I think that's the
next one. He's a big piece of what they got
going on. So you got to give love to k Man.
He's he's he's doing what he does. Man. I even
watched the game last night where they played the Celtics,
and he didn't really have a good game. But it's
just his presence on the floor, like he gets anywhere
(06:50):
he wants. He's a big guard. They got nice size
and he's strong and physical, so he's a he's a
he's a tough cover man. So shout out to him
on his first time All Stars starting, And then to
answer your question about the first time All Stars those
times is amazing, man, Just to be able to see
your favorite players, being able to interact with them throughout
(07:12):
the weekend, just being on that level. It's a different
you know, they say it's levels to it, Like there's
a different level to bring just a really good NBA
player to being an All Star then to being a
starting All Star, Like it's always a level higher you
can go and to be in that same space as
all the best players in the league in today's game,
(07:34):
is like it only solidifies you, It only makes you
that much better. And I think like for me, it
gave me more confidence going into the second half of
the season, just being around that weekend, being around greatness,
interacting with Kobe, being laughing around with Lebron and d
Wade and those type of guys like it made me
feel that much more unstoppable when I got back to
(07:56):
my team and it was time to end the season
in the last thirty forty games. So I know, for
all Star starters, you you even feel like even different
level of confidence and and swagger to yourself. So, you know,
shout out to all those guys that got named starters.
Big shout out to k Cunningham because he deserves it.
I hope the NBA does right and gets two guys
(08:18):
in there as their number one in the East.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
And they got it. They got because I remember remember
the Hawks days when there was like four.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Four through you know, it's their whole starters. Yeah, you know,
I remember that. It's it's when you're number one and
number two are you're a big you got a big
leap in the standings ahead of other teams. It's only
right to get to you know, to show your love
and respect and give give those guys at least two
sometimes three guys in there.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
Yeah, I what was interesting was, you know, with I
think we're seeing this sort of shake out this new NBA,
the new like Contenders, where these teams have deep benches,
spread out, tons of role players, and we've gone away
from that, like three megastar team, the big three's are
sort of fading out, and so yeah, how do you
show how do you recognize you know, these winning teams,
(09:08):
like you gotta have a you know, more than one player,
like you said, And so I think it's just the
difficulty and we'll see how the reserves gets filled out.
And if it's not more than you know, two pistons,
like I think we do got a problem.
Speaker 2 (09:20):
It gotta be too you that's a no brainer. So
I hope because Duran his stats probably don't show All Star,
but he's an impactful player on a winning team. So
like you got to reward that.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Well what about uh? I think tyres MAXI is not
his first All Star game, but they just actually New
Balance announced today that he's getting a signature shoe. So
and just as Tyrese Maxie you know, as a starter
to me and looking at and we'll get to the
west in a second. Here it really shows that the
new generation of NBA is here.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
It's here signature shoe starter, first time Philadelphia seventy six
er starter since Alan Iverson.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
That's crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
That says a lot like this young kid is is
very talented, very special, a bright future over there in
Philly with not just him but VJ the rookie. So
shout out to shout out to Maxie Man. I'm a
big fan of his game, his speed. He had a
hell of a game last night as well. So it's
(10:21):
like he's doing his thing. Bro. It's well deserved for
the new age guards, the new age players coming in
and it's crazy to be in the game. Like when
I got in the game, Kobe was still here, like
Kobe was still on top twenty eleven, Kobe was still
like on top of his game. And then to see
him like obviously get older and his game start to
(10:46):
go down as every older guy does. And then the
CEE these superstars, now you got James Harden, left, Steph Curry,
Lebron obviously and a few more that obviously I'm not naming,
but to see the tables turning KD into the next
group of young superstars, it's crazy to be able to
(11:07):
be in the game and experience all that.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
That leads me to an interesting question here of like,
do you have any advice for these younger all stars
going in and being able to have the vets and
that the superstars have been doing it? Like should they
be picking their brands for advice? Like how do they
take full advantage of that weekend?
Speaker 2 (11:24):
I mean they need to. I mean, and I know
as young players you're intimidated by the guys you looked
up to watched on TV. But I'm telling you, as
even an older player now, like and I was the
one guy I asked questions. I don't care, like I
ain't got no pride, Like Kobe's right there, I'm going
to sit next to him and try to chop it
up with him. But this younger generation of guys, they're
(11:48):
they're they're definitely a little intimidated by the older guys.
But an older guy loves when a guy asking questions,
and you can game somebody. So if I'm when I'm
k cunning, game. I'm MAXI, I'm all these guys. I'm
going in the locker room ask them guys, Man, how
did you how are you playing twenty plus years? How
are you still on top of your game at year
(12:09):
nineteen and eighteen? Like KD, It's like that's the answers
to the test right there. And if you're not going
to ask it that weekend when everybody's chill, nobody's in
like in competitive state, really, man, you will be chripping
if you don't. If you don't, if you don't get
some advice from the greatest players that you looked up
to and watch while you was coming up.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
I would say, honestly that twenty sixteen Toronto All Start,
it was probably it was honestly my favorite All Star
weekend of the last I mean exactly ten years. And yeah,
like you said, you got to talk to Kobe. That
was Kobe's last All Star game, Like yeah, like that
was like you could you got to go and ask
him questions everything.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Like I'm telling you, when I first seen Kobe in
the hallway when you go into your little appearances, Yeah,
he really grabbed me and hugged me like like like
he was just so proud of me, like like welcome,
like finally, like you're here. I'm like like because I'm
the only one that dreamed of that, Not even my mom,
not even my dad, like, not even my wife, Like, no,
(13:13):
nobody super close to me even thought that was possible.
I know for a fact, Like they could say they did,
but there's no way, Like I dreamed of that every
day and then to experience that, like it was one
of the best feelings ever. So I know what these
young guys, especially who are first time All Stars are
going through, Like it's one of the dopest feelings ever
(13:35):
because you dream about that weekend because you watched it
as a kid growing.
Speaker 1 (13:38):
Up the West. Some regular names here, some names that
we knew for sure. We got Jo, Kich, Luca, Sga, Steph,
and wemb What the main thing that I get from
this roster or this announcement is, like, you know, because
as the the game's format changes to USA versus the World,
four to five out of these names here are international
(13:59):
stars Jokic, Luka, Sja, and Wemby. So I guess, just
even leading into the format, we've talked about it before
the USA Versus the World. Do you feel like that
this is a welcome, I guess, suggestion to fix the
All Star Do you think that? And I had seen
other other analysts say, like, these players are going to
(14:20):
be playing for the country on their chest, Like, of
course they're doing that in the Olympics, but this is
still All Star weekend, mid season players don't want to
get hurt. Do you feel like it's really going to
be USA versus the world out there or people going
to be playing soft and trying not to get hurt.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
I think it could be a little more competitive, but
it won't get to where it's going to be like
back and forth. I hope, like I hope, but it's
so many people in these guys ere about not going
that hard, about just being safe and not having those
stupid small injuries throughout the weekend. So I think at
(14:57):
times throughout the game, I hope it's really competitive, and
I hope what the NBA is doing, obviously is trying
to figure out ways to make it competitive. By doing
the world versus us you would think there would be
some pride on the line, But until like the best
player in the world goes hard in that setting, everybody
else would follow suit.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
That's super interesting id because you know, during the weekend
we always get these reports of like the leagues meeting
with the players saying you gotta try hard, but it
really is dependent, like who's gonna set the precedent, right, Yeah,
like you were there, you've you've been on the inside.
Are these superstar players? Is there like say, Jannis starts
(15:37):
from you know, from the tip off starts just like
running at that rim. Are players gonna go, oh, we're
not just gonna stand around for this or I feel
like one laugh in the games, like they're chilling, they're
throwing crazy passes, they're shooting you know, half court threes.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Like it's difficult. I don't know, because it's it's entertainment
as well, but the whole weekend is so much going on,
Like the game isn't that important to a lot of people,
not saying it wasn't to me, but like being in
that situ being in those situations a couple of times
it's like, guy, don't want to get embarrassed. First off,
(16:13):
Like I'm not saying that's me, but the overall aspect
of it, and Guy's got a lot of pride. If
back in the day, if Jordan went hard everybody would
go hard. When Kobe went hard, everybody laced their stuff
up and went hard. Like when Lebron goes hard, everybody
follows suit. So one of these young guys coming up,
(16:35):
if they put their pride aside and pick somebody up
full quart a couple of times, like you never know,
Like you don't know what triggers these guys, but I
hope it's competitive at some point, like play around through
the first couple quarters and then like put some money
on the line, Like that's what's gonna get it. Somebody
got some money on the line, or so somebody make
(16:56):
a little small bed. That's what's gonna get guys. Juice
is flowing for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:02):
Speaking on that, honestly, it reminds me of my one
of my favorite Kobe memories that I feel like is
not talked about enough. And people remember this. It was
Jordan's last All Star game. He hit what was gonna
be the game winner, and it's like that whole games
as you remember, it was like Mariah Carrey Jordan Jordan dress.
It was all for Jordan's. You know, all the players
(17:24):
wore Jordan's you know, uh, even Kobe he wore he
wore I think the true Blue threes or whatever. But
he he went. He took the ball right after that
game winner and went straight to the basket, got fouled.
He could have missed the frequently.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
He could have a story where they told him they
went up to him and told him to miss I don't.
Speaker 1 (17:42):
I don't remember that, so I didn't hear the story.
Speaker 2 (17:44):
Who said the story? It was whoever whispered in his
ear the coach told him to miss that for you know,
for what was bigger than the game. And Michael Jordan,
he like, he looked at him, like, you got me
messed up. He tripping went to the free throw and
told him right before it, and then he looked at
him like, nah, you got the wrong one, bro, I'm
(18:05):
about to knock these down, you tripping. But but that
was Jordan going hard. That was Kobe going hard. That
was you would look crazy if you didn't go hard
with all them great players going that. Yeah, that hard.
So hopefully, man, things change this All Star We pray
we got a competitive one, but I don't know.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
Guys got to get them. Moment mentality, we talk about
all something's injected back into the All Star Game.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
Something and one of them young dudes got maybe Anthony Erwars,
you never know.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
Honestly, what I like about this is that we got
to remember this is fan vote too, and the fact
that we got Cade, Maxi and Brown in there means
that people are knowing ball a little bit more than
we used to. These aren't just dudes showing up in commercials.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
All the time, no nah, And they don't even really
have no commercials right now. So like those those are
fans watching and wanted to see those guys in there
because they're super exciting, they're super they're on the verge
of being superstars.
Speaker 1 (19:01):
It's gonna be a good one this year. We'll take
a break here on Point Game and come back. We're
going to talk some trade from there's happening to be
Brandow all right, welcome back on Point Game. Now. We're
nearing the trade deadlines, and so we've had some names
here that have been on the trading block and the
(19:22):
top of the trading rumors radar the last few weeks.
But I wanted to talk about some other ones. So
obviously some other podcasts going on. This one got leaked.
It was kind of a controversy here with Rich Paul
agent and head of Clutch said that Austin Reeves for
Jaron Jackson Junior. So on a couple of levels, I
want to talk about this one. And you know, there's
(19:43):
no bad blood anywhere. We're not gonna talk about about anyone.
But this is the first time we've ever seen an
agent have their own podcast talking about how he would
do a Jaron Jackson a play like he's got his
main client, his friend Lebron on the Lakers, saying he
would do a trade for Austin Reeves for Jared Jackson.
So one, want to know your thoughts on I guess
(20:03):
that approach. And then two, is that a good trade?
Because as a Lakers fan, I was going I wish
he didn't do that, But I don't know. Jen Jackson
Junior is a great player in the Lakers have been needing.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
I mean, first off, come on, Rich Paul, we can't
be doing that. That's insane because that seems like a
realistic trade too.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
Like, and then just to know who he is and
what he is to Lebron is like, has that been
conversation between y'all? You just never know. But I mean,
I don't think he should be on any podcasts talking
about trades, Like, if you're going to be on one,
you could definitely talk the game, talk about what's going
on in your life in terms of the agent side
(20:44):
of things and all of that. Like, I'm cool with that.
You did a trade that is really realistic and it
has the world. Anything you say obviously is going to
be thought about, as Lebron spoke about it as well.
So like, I think that was wrong to throw somebody
out in especially on the Lakers, Like maybe do another
(21:06):
team and then and then nobody's really having any problems.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
That's a tough deal. I mean, and I'm one of
the biggest Austin Reeves fans, and but you know.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
I think that's a good like to piggyback, that's a
good trade because Jared Jackson is better than any big
you have. I think he would make him and Luca
would be really good because he is as a it's
a rim threat, a guy that can shoot the three,
a guy that is you gotta worry about on offense.
And I don't think they have that yet in terms
of their bigs. But then you're giving up a guy
(21:38):
that's averaging twenty five plus and it's one of the
up and coming you know, stars in this league. So yeah,
it's it's it's tough because like, if I'm in that situation,
I'm thinking, does Jared Jackson make me a contender to
win the championship right now? Like? Is that a guarantee
I get at least even to the conference finals? But then,
(21:59):
like say Lebron retires after this year, you just gave
up Austin Reeves. It is a big piece, Yeah, what
you got going on?
Speaker 1 (22:07):
So it would be a good trade. I think you
said it right. There is, but like do they want
to win right now? Does it make him a contender?
And I unfortunately feel like the Lakers do not have
a window to leverage their future anymore. You know, like
a couple of years ago with Lebron, who you know,
had some years in front of him, it's like, oh, yeah,
we got to give Lebron those pieces. But they've they've
(22:28):
tried it a few times and it just backfired. And
now you got Austin Reeves, who's been loyal, who could
have went anywhere when he was a free agent, has
said I feel like he's he's in. His deal is
incredibly Lakers friendly.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
I think the biggest thing is too. Like the Lakers,
he's their most valued player right now other than Luca.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
Another name former Laker A D who unfortunately has has
been suffering through some injuries. But I think we've all
seen when when a D is eighty five percent healthy,
he's one of the greatest bigs out there.
Speaker 2 (23:00):
Real.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
So, you know, the Mass have talked about they'd be
down to trade them. Some teams I think could really
use them. I think a D needs a situation and
some scenery that is not as dysfunctional as sort of
the you know, the past couple of teams he's been on,
just a place where he can hoop, you know, worry
about his health and all that. So what do you
think about the Mass trading for AD or should they
(23:22):
hang on to him? Like that is a team that
we haven't really seen healthy as well in Cooper Flag,
like they keep getting better. I think they won, like
they're their third straight recently. So yeah, you know, do
they trade a piece that could potentially help them when
they're when they're healthy. What do you think about Ad?
Speaker 2 (23:35):
I think they trade him. I think okay, you get
some value for him. You start to build around Cooper
Flag like you're not winning the championship. If AD's healthy
or Kyrie comes back healthy, just you're just not right now.
I don't believe that. So why not trade Ad, get
some value for him, whether it be draft picks, young guys,
(23:57):
probably put somebody else in that trade to build around
super Flag and Kyrie moving forward, and then go from there.
Like the Dallas thing just hasn't worked. Obviously, A D
has been not hasn't been healthy as as much as
he's he wants to be. I just think that whole
dynamic is just it was forced obviously with the Luca trade.
(24:20):
It's just a time for a change of scenery for him,
and I think it would it would help a D
as well obviously once he gets healthy. But going somewhere
you never I don't know where he will go. I
don't know who would want him. Obviously, teams would want him, yeah,
but I just don't know what direction you go in
(24:40):
in terms of where that's going to happen.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
At Yeah, I can't. I can't really off the top
of my head think about you know, we've been looking
at these trades through the lens of like you know,
making teams of media contenders. I think the league is
right now. The way it stands, the teams are are
it's sort of bottom heavy, right, So it's like Ad
going so where isn't gonna make him a contender? But
(25:02):
you know some of these teams need to just admit
that they got to do with the long play. We
talked about the Wizards. You know, if Trey is getting
there and they're talking about how you might play, he's
ramping up, like you need a couple more vets there
because they lost CJ who was their great vet. Like
you get a d who's a great vet but also
a dominant force when he is healthy. You got Trey
young that that combo rate there, I think.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I mean that would be that would be that would
be like good, you got you're coming in next year
with treyon and Ad. You got the young wings, you
got you got a couple of young guards. That shows
that you're making progress and moving forward like you want to.
You're not saying you can win a championship with that team.
You can get to the playoffs, build a year after
(25:45):
year for a couple of years. In two years, three years,
maybe you're especially in the East, maybe you're in the
second conference finals, second round Conference finals and then you
gotta Obviously it's towards the end of a d's career
at some point, but that would be a good little place,
and it's DC, Like DC is a nice place to
(26:05):
live too.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
My other play here is going hometown like Chicago. Oh,
I think could make some room too. Obviously they got
you know, Vuceviciu has always played really solid, but like
him going back, I feel like he really put on
for l A and like felt like fed off the
energy of the city, which I feel like he doesn't
really have in Dallas unfortunately. But going back to his
hometown and playing where it all began, I feel like
(26:28):
could be interesting as well.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
And they'll give him good energy, Like they'll probably mean
a little more, yeah, but I mean that that could
be a good will that make them probably okay. That's
the only thing is like, yeah, you might want to
go back to the crib, but are you cool with
not being good for a couple of years, Like that's
like not even saying they won't be good, but like
(26:51):
championship contending good, that's a no brainer. That's no go okay.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
And finally I saw this report. We've been talking about
this potentially happening. But here's the interesting and wrinkles. So
the Knicks have discussed trading Cat and I saw. I
was like, okay, so this is starting. It's gonna be
Cat for Yannis. But then they said magic Hornets and
Grizzlies or who they were talking to.
Speaker 2 (27:13):
See those type of trades. Is definitely gonna be a
three team trade and a few players. But I think
the Knicks need to give up kay.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
I think, but you gotta only give him up for Yannis, right, Yeah, you're.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
Not giving them up for some role players or any No,
it's a star for star. It's a star for star,
and you're probably gonna have to give up a little more.
But yeah, I'm making that move if that's available.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
And you're making that move. Like with Kat, who he's
been on the Timberwolves when they've been successful. The Knicks
have been successful. But there is something about Cat where
he's a seven footer, but he's an incredible shooter at
seven feet tall. But sometimes these teams just need their
seven foot or to be a big presence in the post.
Is that sort of the number one criticism?
Speaker 2 (27:56):
Yeah, like you're living, you're you're You're just a seven
foot guard at this point, Like he doesn't go in
the post enough, and when he is in the posts,
he makes stuff happen. But I know that's not how
the game is and guys don't want to bang like
they used to. But I feel like he has to
be able to switch it up a little more, like
(28:17):
do a little bit of both, like especially when it's
mismatches and stuff. I think he tends to just stay
around the top of the key the three point line
and fire away. And he's one of the best three
point shooting bigs, so you you can't take that away
from him, but I would like to see him be
a little more versatile and doing more things that closer
(28:37):
to the hoop at times.
Speaker 1 (28:38):
And it was like a little snapshot of this season
on the Pond. We were like, oh, the Knicks are winning,
they're on a win streak, but then they just lost
a few games.
Speaker 2 (28:48):
They've been, they've been. They lost nine out of their
last eleven.
Speaker 1 (28:51):
You know, so that's all it takes.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
So you know, they're saying, fire Mike bro They're doing
all that just how New York always does it. So
it's like they it's crazy there. They lost nine to
eleven and they're still like in third or fourth place.
That's how good they was really playing.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
And the Celtics are our second in the East, who
was supposed to be.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Rebuilding like a down year. Tatum comes back.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
In the playoffs, like we might see Celtics in the final.
Speaker 2 (29:18):
There's a team. They're a team you don't want to
really match up with. That's just that they're a team
that you don't want to match it with during that time.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Well, and you spent some time around that team. Not
to go away from trade stuff, but like we gotta
we gotta give credit to Derek White, like he's a
legitimate player. He wasn't just like the whole player, Like
you know, that team is full of dogs. Obviously Jalen
has been a leader, uh since being there, but like yeah,
for them to play as well as they have without
Tatum and then Tatum going to be healthy and like
what what what's that? What you've been over there? Like
(29:49):
what is that over there? It's good coaching.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Is the culture is there is culture staff is really
good and prepared. They have really good players that are
like next mentality up next man mentality mindsets, and they
got really skilled players like Peyton Pritcher's really skilled, Derek
White's really skilled. Obviously, Jaylen Brown is taking his game
(30:14):
to another level that guys didn't think he can be
the number one option and lead a team, and he's
doing that, and he's playing on both sides of the ball.
Like he's one of the best two way players in
the game. So I think they got they got championship experience,
so no situation or no game is too much for them,
and that's like a skill to have. And they've been
(30:36):
together for a little bit, so like they know, they've
been to war together. And when you've been when you've
been a battle with the next guy right next to
you numerous times at the highest stage, you have a
little different confidence in you that no matter who we play,
we can beat these guys.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
Don't count them out. It's going to be interesting with
all these trades, these sneaky teams. We don't this is
the most open season that I've ever seen.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
It, and that's good for the game. Like you don't
got like obviously, Okay, see he's the favorite because they're
one of the best teams, but like it's not no
clear cut they're winning even though they're playing really well.
That's just how the game is now, and that just
makes it that much more competitive and exciting at the
same time. For sure.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
Okay, we're gonna take another break Cawn point game. When
we come back, we're gonna talk about the league going
even more global with Silver talking an expansion, and then
we're gonna do our no days off and awards some
players that everyone needs to be talking about. Let me back,
all right. For this week's DraftKings Sportsbook segment, the current
(31:40):
odds have SGA, Kate Cunningham, and Anthony Edwards all at
the same odds of plus two point fifty to win
the Clutch Player of the Year. So it who do
you think out of those names are gonna get the
Clutch Award this year?
Speaker 2 (31:53):
Man, those are some tough names. Those are some good names.
But I'm gonna go with the mister confident himself. Mister
he's believing in himself, Anthony Edwards, because he's always having
that mindset of of getting the job done and and
I love that mindset. So I'm gonna go with Aunt Edwards.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
I think he'd have his money on himself too, So
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Speaker 1 (32:53):
All right, welcome back to Point Game. Now, I wanted
to talk. We talked about how the All Star Game
is going to the USA versus World format, but I
think Silver since he's come in, he's sort of had
his eyes set on, you know, how to continue growing
this game globally, and he announced that they are in
talks on an NBA in feba partnership and doing some
some sort of like NBA euro League Memphis and the
(33:14):
Magic put over in Berlin and London, which was a
great look. Now it t you know you during your
time in the NBA did you go overseas and I
know you were even looking at some euro League stuff,
Like what do you know about over there? Is this
a good move or should the league be you know,
just continue to take care of the product back home.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
It gott to grow. It's only right for the game
to grow. So Adam Silver is doing the right thing
and expanding it to different countries, for different countries that
be able to have the access to see players they
only see on TV. The game is global, man, So
it's it's it's a dope experience, not only for the
fan that doesn't get to see these guys on the regular,
(33:52):
but for the player going to these cities, experiencing the culture,
the different cultures, eating the food, and experiencing that love
that other countries give you. It's like, it's it's a
no brainer. Like what Adam Silver's doing is is is genius.
Is only right. It's probably tough doing it in the
(34:13):
middle of the season, because when I played back in
twenty sixteen and seventeen. I think even in twenty fifteen,
we went on the Celtics, we went to Mulan, Italy,
we went to Madrid, we went to like, like, we
had a couple of cities that we end up playing
in the preseason, and it was like an experience of
a lifetime. It was so dop. It was so dope.
(34:35):
We even I even ended up playing against Luka Doncis's team,
and he was like fifteen or sixteen years old, and
nobody even knew he was on the bench. So that's
how crazy the game is and how things just change
and turn and now he's one of the best players
in the world. Like, so it's dope to be able
to experience that, to see those things, and for the
(34:59):
NBA to expand. The NBA should be everywhere, man, it's
so it's so big, the world watches it. It should
be the best players in the world around the world.
Somehow someway that.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
That's such a cool story. You're saying that you're playing
against Luca. Didn't you didn't even know who he was
though he.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Was the only way I remembered it because when he
got to the league. He mentioned he's like the first
NBA players I've seen or NBA team I played against
was Isaiah Thomas and the Celtics, and he ended up
getting in that game, I think towards the end, but
like you just would never know. And that's how I
bet Winby did it with somebody and how like all
(35:36):
those stars from different countries that you never even heard of,
that's how they break through, get the opportunity and then
become who they are.
Speaker 1 (35:44):
There was I remember Ricky Rubio playing at like fourteen. Yeah,
there's a story like Barkley always tells how he went
over He's playing Dirk and then they were like, who's
this Dirk guy? Shooting all these fadeaways, crazy footwork, and
then he was trying to get Dirk to go play
for Auburn.
Speaker 2 (36:01):
You know. I remember one time I was in high school,
I was playing for the USA team and we went
to Italy and we played, we participated in the europre
draft thing with all like the older men, and we
were like sixteen seventeen at the time, playing against these guys,
scrimmaging and getting our ass kicked, like be losing by
(36:23):
thirty forty and we had all like the top little
college stars on the team that were going to college
all that, but it didn't matter. And I remember seeing
Marco BELLNELLI like for the first time. This is when,
this is when he was going into the draft. I
remember what he was wearing and everything. This is how
I mazed.
Speaker 1 (36:39):
I was.
Speaker 2 (36:40):
I was like, he had an all white Jordan threes
and he walked in the gym like he was Michael Jordan,
pure money. All the pure Moneies walked in and everybody
like his are his His energy was like, damn, that's
that dude. I don't even know who he was until yes,
and they were like, man, he's going in the draft
this year. He gonna be a top ten pick. He's
(37:00):
one of them dudes. And then we play against him
and stuff, Like I thought he was like Kobe, Like
I thought he was that good at that point because
I never seen no guy make every shot. He's fading away,
he doing stuff that you only see on TV. But like,
that's where the game has taken everybody to where you
can go to a different country running to a person
(37:21):
you never seen, never heard of, and then five ten
years later he'd be one of the best players to
play the game like.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
Man shout out Marco Bellinellie. Honestly, I told you before
I was a fan of the Bulls, Nate Robinson, those
teams where they would always get some guys like Marc Bellanellien.
I was like, who is this guy? And he was
doing those fadeaways, he was doing all these.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
And he was threes, he was doing all automatic.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
But then he had this aura of like a race
car driver.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
Yes, but back then he had an or like he
was Kobe. He walked in I told you with the
all white threes he had so oh he had the
NBA socks and I'm like, oh, damn, he must be cold.
Didn't even know didn't even know who it was. I
was like, damn, that was back in two thousand and six,
two thousand and seven, damn, or whatever year he went
(38:06):
to the draft. That might have been two thousand and eight.
Speaker 1 (38:08):
So other games that are producer actually put together a
list which I thought was cool, some games that you know,
potentially that we we would want to see out there.
We got Nuggets game in Serbia, kauz Jokic Bucks game
in Greece because he Yiannis Spurs in France Lakers and
Slovenia because of Luca and Sixers game and Cameroon, Like
how much you know how much love is are the
(38:29):
fans given? Like what's the environment like in comparison to NBA,
especially when they're their hometown heroes are coming to play.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
There's no comparison to the love you get overseas. I
don't I don't care where it's had, Like those people
don't think they're ever gonna see ever ever, so like
the love is like, the love is real anytime I'm
going I go to like list last summer, I went
to Greece twice, I went to Switzerland. Like it's like
you would think I'm Michael Jordan. Like like that the
(38:59):
amount of love and how crazy they go for you.
So the NBA should do that every year to where
especially the top dogs that are over that are foreign,
they should have a game in their home city to
just bring awareness of the game of basketball bringing the NBA.
That would be cracking if they did that every year
to the obviously you got to be a superstar star, yeah,
(39:22):
and you go back to your go back to the crib,
be able to play and get that experience.
Speaker 1 (39:28):
Like that would be man here's how I think they
could do it too, especially they get because I feel
like the league, and Mellow was just talking about his
podcast of like you know and you've gone through too,
of like the league is just so filled with talent, right,
so we have guys who can clearly play right now
who aren't on teams. Right So if they're going, you're
a league, you put Luca on Slovenia, you take away
(39:48):
some of these guys, but then you feel those spots
with some US players on these teams.
Speaker 2 (39:53):
So you're saying, really making an expansion in them having.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
A team, and like it's separate from the NBA. It's
NBA Euro it's or it's NBA Global, you know, and
so it is like an Olympics, but it's more so
just like for like a couple of months or something
instead of ye if.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
You could do like even if you could do like
a month friendly or whatever, you're where you do a
month and every all those guys are on the team
where they're from. And I get it, I get it.
You're gonna have to pay so much more for these guys.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
Put the money where people want to watch, you know, And.
Speaker 2 (40:27):
For sure, no, I think it would be dope if
you can make it happen, if.
Speaker 1 (40:32):
You lead guys to like the younger guys who you
know you want them on a team. Mac McClung's you know,
just get like, let's be just I guess it's like
more of like a reoccurring like World Games.
Speaker 2 (40:42):
No that that it could make sense, Yeah, it can.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
Just how to fix it?
Speaker 2 (40:49):
That would be dope. If somehow that can make it
make sense. I would like, I know, if they can,
they're they're definitely gonna Expand.
Speaker 1 (40:58):
All right, let's go into our No Days Off segment.
You've been watching who we've been watching it? Who are
some names? Actually listen, let's do a little reminder for
anyone who's just locking in the podcast for the first time.
We call it this segment No Days Off, where we
give some love to a player who's not getting that
TV shine, not getting all the posts and social media,
but who's really really stepping up and killing and deserves
(41:20):
some love and deserves our flowers. So it who are
you giving it to this week? No days Off?
Speaker 2 (41:25):
This week No days Off? Over there? Our guy over
there on the Atlanta Hawks, Nikkeiel Alexander Walker has been
doing his thing ever since the trade, he's been obviously
playing more in the starting lineup getting minutes, but even
before the Tray Young trade, he's really been balling every week.
(41:45):
When I look at the box score, when I look
at Atlanta hot game, he's given you twenty six, twenty two.
And let's not forget he plays both ends of the floor.
Like he started his career as a lockdown defender. The
last couple of Playoffs appearances he's had, that's been his
job is to guard the best guard, hit his open threes,
(42:06):
and he's expanded his game even more in terms of
making plays off the dribble, knocking down this three, consistently
really being a dog out there for the Atlanta Hawks.
So like I got to give a big shout out
to him or no days off winner. We're always looking
for the guys that don't get the love. We're always
looking for the guys they don't get the media light
(42:27):
on them. But we're gonna shine the light on our guy.
NA kill Alexander Walker over there in Atlanta, the cousin
of SGA, So he got a little bit of SGA
in his game, and I know he'd be wearing the
converse and all that. So maybe SGA's game is spilling
over to to Walker's game, So shout out to him. Man,
(42:49):
no days off, winner for the week, keep doing your things,
stay on your slow ground.
Speaker 1 (42:53):
Dope and just piggybacking on that. I think that's why
we saw the trade, the trade young trade happen. They
got a bunch of guys who deserve to have the
ball in their hands more and they just got to
cover right now, and so they cleared up some cap
space and want have to resign that that that giant
contract that trees getting demand. So shout out to that.
It's nice when uh, you know, you like correct a problem,
(43:15):
you know by bringing in a guy like Nikielan who's
really stepping into his contract in a big way. So
shout out to him. There's been another episode of Point Game.
Any parting words it.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Fans out there, just keep tapping in with us. Man,
we need more viewers, We need all of that. We
need to love. Tell us what you want to hear,
what you want to chop with us to chop it
up about, even if you want some real deal stories.
I just think in the back of my head of
all the you know, hope experience I've had in my career,
but you know, shout out to you, Shout out to
everybody involved. It's a it's a rap, all right.
Speaker 1 (43:49):
There's been point game presented by follow Through, Slow Grind,
iHeart and DraftKings. See you guys next m
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